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4,300 northerners with dementia want you to know it's Alzheimer Awareness Month

As dementia rates continue to rise, Alzheimer Society looks to raise awareness, funds
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Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger declared January Alzheimer Awareness Month during a small ceremony Tuesday with members of the Alzheimer Society Sudbury-Manitoulin North Bay & Districts. Photo by Jonathan Migneault

Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger declared January Alzheimer Awareness Month during a small ceremony Tuesday with members of the Alzheimer Society Sudbury-Manitoulin North Bay & Districts.

Stephanie Leclair, the Alzheimer Society's executive director for the region, congratulated Bigger for sharing the story about his mother-in-law, who was diagnosed with dementia and now lives at the Finlandia Village nursing home.

Leclair said when people share their lived experience with dementia it helps reduce the stigma associated with the disease.

Right now, an estimated 564,000 Canadians are living with dementia. In 15 years, this figure will increase by 66 per cent, to 937,000 people.

In the northeast there are more than 4,300 people living with dementia.

For Alzheimer Awareness Month, the Alzheimer Society is asking community members to be #InItForAlz and help fund essential programs and support services for those affected in our community. Through this campaign, the Alzheimer Society also hopes to change the conversation about the disease.

The month is also an opportunity to donate to the Alzheimer Society, which provides local services that support people living with dementia and their families.

Visit AlzheimerSudbury.ca to donate to the Alzheimer Society Sudbury-Manitoulin North Bay & Districts or call 705-560-0603 and find out how you can make a difference.


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Jonathan Migneault

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